Dishwashers in general, particularly top loaders

[maytagbear]

I've seen a fair share of top loading dishwashers, but have NEVER used one. I've always wondered if they require less bending and stretching to load. With the back injury beginning (beginning!) to lessen, I've started back to real dishes instead of paper plates and so forth. I loaded the dishwasher this afternoon and the bending and stretching was quite uncomfortable, and I had to take aspirin, and use a heating pad for a while.

Do top loaders take less bending and stretching?

One of my guesses is why they faded from the market was the boom in built-ins. Another guess was the fairly fixed loading required for some.

Of course, I think a kitchen without a dishwasher is something from a deep backwoods cabin. The summer place we rented in Ontario's Georgian Bay did not have a dishwasher at first, but the last year we rented, it had a new Inglis. It was nice.

My history of dishwashers owned include Maytag (my very favourites--then), one BOL Whirlpool (first apartment- worked rather well), BOL GEs in the next two (only cleaned decently with enzyme detergents,) and now my almost MOL GE Nautilus. I love it, it cleans nearly as well as my very first Maytag, a WC400. We got the WC400 in 1973.

What are your experiences, random thoughts, raves and rants about dishwashers, historic and modern?

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[appnut]

Lawrence, personally I found I still have to bend over to put small things in the bottom rack of the top loading KAs i have played with as well as impeller GEs. My mom had spinal stenosis very bad the last ocuple of years they were in their retirement apartment. She had a chair on rollers (an office desk chair) that she sat in and loaded and unloaded the dishwasher--taking things off and placning them on the counter as the action needed. I could see myself having to do this someday.

 

[danemodsandy]

Speaking...

...As another bad-back case, I feel that front-loaders are a little easier on Mr. Spine. The reason is that the racks roll out, and you can get to things a bit easier. In top-loaders, the upper rack usually rises when you lift the lid, and that part is nice. But getting to the stuff in the lower rack is, in my opinion, more of a stretch 'n stoop than it is with front-loaders.

Also, I've been known to cut the stooping down to one event per dishload by lifting the lower rack out of the machine and sitting it on the counter, then putting dishes away from there. Yes, this meant lifting a rack of dishes. But you only bend once. Sometimes it felt like the right thing to do, other times not.

That's all in the past for the moment. No dishwasher these days, and no place to put one, literally no place. I don't mind, actually.

 

[aamassther]

We had a GE Power Shower when I was growing up, in the seventies. I remember having to bend quite a bit to load the bottom rack. I think Bob's recommendation to sit is a good idea. Also a good idea for unloading the dryer.
I generally recommend icing for clients, who have injuries such as yours, before and after activity. Ice is a great pain reliever and helps to reduce inflammation.

 

[lordkenmore]

No real experience with vintage dishwashers, although I have hopes for one of these days....

In fact, my dishwasher experience is pretty limited, period. I never lived someplace that had a dishwasher (at least a usable dishwasher) until spring 3 years ago. During the next 2 years, I had a chance to use a Whirlpool (probably low in the line) and a Maytag (which I really hated. It cleaned OK, but it was the modern flimsy plastic everywhere, even "where we know we shouldn't use plastic but will do so anyway to save a few extra dollars so our CEO can buy that third Mercedes after all.") The last year, I haven't had a dishwasher, although it's on my list of things I'd like to get.

I never even knew that they made top load dishwashers until I saw one pictured here. My immediate impression is that they aren't the best for someone with any sort of back trouble. (I've had enough back trouble in my life to think of these things!) It seems like too much bending into the machine, although one could easily stabilize oneself on one of the top edges with one hand, which might be one small plus.

With front load, one could kneel (as they say, you should move your knees and legs, not your back). Possibly unload, lifting the items where possible/practical to the counter above the dishwasher. Or have a some in between surface between the lower rack level and the counter level to stack on. (This is easier lift for each dish from the rack. It's less bending to pick up and put away.) Or...well, this is chance to get creative.

For those with serious bending problems, a counter top dishwasher might be a better choice. Limited load size, probably made in China, but easily loaded.

Or one could get creative and somehow raise a regular dishwasher to a higher height. I'm looking for a dishwasher now, but I'd need a portable, which seems to go for too much in my area. I've considered getting a regular front load, and converting it to portable. During that process, I imagine one could raise it a couple of feet.

 

[turquoisedude]

I guess I am simply used to it...

But I really don't find that you have to bend or do contortions for most loads in the top-loader. I do tend to wash mostly dishes in the top-loader, though, because you do have to be careful to not block water spray to the upper rack.
I have had more portables than built-ins for some reason.
LordKenmore makes a good point about the raised dishwashers - way back in the fifties, Youngstown Kitchens made a version of their front-loader that sat on a base cabinet to raise it and I have seen the idea in a number of vintage and modern kitchen planning books.
Overall, if I was forced into a choice of just one (GASP!) dishwasher, I admit I would choose a front-loader with multiple spray arms. It would probably be a Frigidaire 'cause I like the option they have to wash just the upper rack!

 

[appnut]

I like the option they have to wash just the upper rack!

Paul, GE and Whirlpool have that option now in their lines too for one or two models. Bosch does too.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I grew up with a GE Mobile Maid top loader. Great little dishwasher, but there was a little more bending during loading and unloading than that of the front loaders that replaced it.

EXCEPT for the Maytag Tall Tub, the lower rack is so low to the ground that there are times I can hardly reach down to pull the door up. I have to resort to taking my food and flipping the door til I can reach it.

Some of the new universal design, or barrier free design is to put the machine where the botom rack is waist high to the user. Then there is no bending. They are also recommending the dish drawers as an alternative to standard machines.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Here is a link that shows the raised dishwasher.

http://www.udli.org/html/kitchen.html

 

[panthera]

Lawrence,

Even our KA top loader is a real pain in the back to load.
Much better solution: Raise the FL to a comfortable height.

 

[spiceman1957]

Maytagbear,

I feel you pain. I have had three back surgeries and have to have my partner to unload our dishwasher. There are times where I just wash the dishes by hand just to avoid loading the dishwasher. If I were king and builded my house, I would have had the dishwasher custom made and have raised up to avoid bending. I wonder if that can be done? Well at least I have a front loading washer....smart idea
John

 

[maytagbear]

I would.......

raise my dishwasher, but that would mean quite a shemozzle. First, this is a rental, and if Rosa del Gata and I ever move out, I want to take this machine with me, for it was a gift from exceptional friends. I was without a dishwasher from October 2002 to August 2005, or "the dark years" as I call them.

Secondly, the sink cabinet is laminate over (seems like) cardboard, the sink itself is in poor condition-was when I got here......

Finally, I don't like to make permanent improvements to someone else's property. Although I did bribe him, and was glad to do so, to get him to put in hookups for my washer and dryer. Which is ringing the end of cycle bell now.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[circlew]

Raised dishwasher cabinet

In my new kitchen,I'm planning to have my dishwasher raised, with the countertop at 48" (46.5" H cabinet). This usually looks best when placed at the end of a run. In addition to expensive custom cabinets,most semi-custom manufacturers such as Kemper and KraftMaid offer them. They are usually 27" wide, but have seen some at 30". Many lines offer them at both 40.5" H and 46.5" H, and some have full height tall versions. Kemper's designation is BDW2748 shown on page 4.

Get Started Renovating - Cabinet Design - Kemper

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